CORK CITY COUNCIL HOUSING ADAPTATION GRANT FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY APPLICATION FORM Please read the attached conditions prior to completing this form All questions must be answered Please write your answers clearly in block capital letters Works must not commence prior to receipt by the Local Authority of the grant application and written approval from the Local Authority G The person for whom the grant is sought must occupy the house as his/her normal place of residence Page 1 of 11 February 2014
Conditions of Scheme Types of Housing The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability may be paid, where appropriate, in respect of works carried out to: Owner occupied housing; Houses being purchased from a local authority under the tenant purchase scheme; Private rented accommodation; Accommodation provided under the voluntary housing Capital Assistance and Rental Subsidy schemes; and Accommodation occupied by persons living in communal residences. N.B. Written permission to carry out adaptation works is required from Landlords/Housing agencies in cases where the applicant(s) are not owner occupiers. Purpose of Grant The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability is available to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment. The types of works allowable under the scheme include the provision of access ramps, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access, extensions, and any other works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability. 1. Occupational Therapist Report Upon receipt of a fully completed application form (please reference checklist on page 5) Cork City Council will arrange for an Occupational Therapist to call, assess your requirements and make recommendations regarding appropriate necessary works. An applicant can employ an Occupational Therapist privately if they wish. A Maximum amount of 200.00 can be recouped by the applicant towards the Occupational Therapist Report upon production of an official receipt from the Occupational Therapist. N.B. Applicants who do not proceed with the works following approval from Cork City Council WILL NOT be eligible to recoup the cost of the Occupational Therapist Report. Page 2 of 11 February 2014
2. Level of Grant The level of grant aid available shall be determined on the basis of gross household income and the approved cost of the works as assessed by Cork City Council. The table below sets out the level of grant available based on an assessment of household income. Annual Household Income Percentage of Cost of Works Available Maximum Grant for houses erected for more than 12 months Maximum Grant for houses erected for less than 12 months Up to 30,000 95% 30,000 14,500 30,001 35,000 85% 25,000 12,325 35,001 40,000 75% 22,500 10,875 40,001 50,000 50% 15,000 7,250 50,001 60,000 30% 9,000 4,350 In excess of 60,000 No grant is payable N.B. All grant payments made by Cork City Council are net of vat. Applicants can claim a repayment of vat by completing a VAT 61A Form which can be requested from their Local Revenue Commissioners Office. 3. Household Income Household income is calculated as the annual gross income of all household members over 18 (or over 23 if in full time education) in the previous tax year. In determining gross household income local authorities shall apply the following income disregards: - 5,000 for each member of the household aged up to age 18 years; - 5,000 for each member of the household aged between 18 and 23 years and in full time education, or engaged in a FAS apprenticeship; - 5,000 where the person with a disability for whom the application for grant aid is sought, is being cared for by a relative on a full-time basis; - Child Benefit; - Early Childcare Supplement - Family Income Supplement - Domiciliary Care Allowance - Respite Care Grant - Foster Care Allowance - Fuel Allowance - Carer s Benefit / Allowance Page 3 of 11 February 2014
4. Evidence of household income The following evidence of income must be included with all applications: In the case of PAYE workers, P60 or Balancing Statement for the previous tax year; In the case of self-employed or farmers, Income Tax Assessment form, together with a copy of accounts for the previous tax year; In the case of social welfare recipients, a statement from Social Welfare stating weekly/annual payments or P21 Balancing Statement for the previous tax year. In the case of State Pensioners a copy of the payment card and a payment slip from An Post or P21 Balancing Statement for the previous tax year. In the case of earnings from savings and investments, a certificate of interest or a dividend certificate. (Evidence of household income should be submitted in respect of ALL members of the household) 5. Tax Requirements In the case of any contractor engaging in work for the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability a current Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the Revenue Commissioners must be submitted with the estimate for the required works. In the case of all Adaptation Grant applications, the applicant must submit a valid Tax Clearance Certificate. All applicants are required to include with their grant application, proof that they are compliant with the local property tax. 6. Appeals Procedure In processing applications under the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the authority recognises that some applicants may be dissatisfied with the authority s decision. The authority will give every applicant an appeal mechanism, which will allow him or her to have the decision in his or her case reconsidered by another official. The following procedure shall apply to each appeal: Applicants are invited to submit a written appeal on any decision notified to them by the local authority on their application within 3 weeks of the date of the decision stating the reasons for the appeal. The appeal will be considered and adjudicated upon within 4 weeks of receipt. A decision on an appeal will be notified to each applicant within 2 weeks of the decision being made. Page 4 of 11 February 2014
7. Checklist Please ensure that the following documentation is included in the application for grant aid: Fully completed application form (HGD1); Completed G.P. Medical report (HGD2); Completed Tax Form (HGD3) & a copy of a Tax Clearance Certificate for the applicant(s) Evidence of Household Income from all sources; Evidence of compliance with Local Property tax. Copy of a recent utility bill. Contact telephone numbers landline & mobile Application forms will not be accepted unless all items listed above are included with the application. N.B. If you are a Cork City Council tenant it is not necessary for you to provide quotations for the works applied for or copy of income details. Page 5 of 11 February 2014
Applicant: Address: Telephone No: Mobile No: Date of Birth: P.P.S. No: Occupation: Name of person for whom grant aid is sought (if different from Applicant): Relationship to applicant: Name of the owner of the property to which the proposed adaptation works are to be carried out: Gross Annual Household Income: (Please refer to explanatory note 3 below) I declare the above amount is my only source of income: Signed: Is the person with the disability residing at the address above: How long has s/he been living at this address: Page 6 of 11 February 2014
Name and address of General Practitioner: (Please note that the attached doctor s certificate must be completed by your G.P. and returned with this application form) Details of all persons living in property for which grant aid is sought (including applicant and/or person with a disability) Name Relationship to applicant Date of birth Gross Income (previous tax year) Occupation (if applicable) Number and description of rooms in the dwelling: Upstairs Downstairs Bedrooms Living Dining Kitchen Other General description of proposed works: Page 7 of 11 February 2014
Estimated cost of works: (Please submit 2 written quotations in respect of the estimated cost of works) Amount of grant you are applying for: Balance of costs: How do you propose to fund the balance of costs of work to be carried out: Has a Disabled Persons Grant or a Housing Adaptation Grant been paid previously in respect of the same premises or person? If yes, please give details: Signature of Applicant: Date: Completed applications forms should be returned to: HOUSING LOANS & GRANTS OFFICE, CORK CITY COUNCIL, GROUND FLOOR, CITY HALL, CORK. Ph: 021-4924512/ 021-4924169/ 021-4924591 E-mail: housing@corkcity.ie Web Site: www.corkcity.ie N.B. If you are a Cork City Council tenant it is not necessary for you to provide quotations for the works applied for or copy of income details. Page 8 of 11 February 2014
HGD 2 CERTIFICATE OF DOCTOR HOUSING ADAPTATION GRANT FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY I hereby certify that the proposed works on the attached application form are necessary for the proper accommodation of: NAME: ADDRESS: WHO SUFFERS FROM: (PRINT IN BLOCK CAPITALS) NATURE AND DEGREE OF DISABILITY: (PRINT IN BLOCK CAPITALS) NAME OF DOCTOR: DOCTOR S STAMP ADDRESS: SIGNED: DATE: (PLEASE ENSURE CERTIFICATE IS STAMPED BY DOCTOR) Page 9 of 11 February 2014
Tax requirements in respect of Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address: Income Tax Reference No*: Tax District dealing with your tax affairs: I hereby confirm that to the best of my knowledge my tax affairs are in order. HGD 3 Signed: Date: * In the case of persons paying income tax under PAYE, or those in receipt of social welfare payments, please quote your PPS Number; In the case of self-employed persons please quote the number on your return of income. In the case of all Adaptation Grant applications, applicants are required to produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate. The application form for a Tax Clearance Certificate is available from the Revenue Commissioner s website, www.revenue.ie. Alternatively applicants can request an application form from their local Revenue District. Customer No: Tax Clearance Certificate No: Page 10 of 11 February 2014
TO BE COMPLETED BY CONTRACTOR Name of Contractor 1: Address: Tel: Income Tax serial number: Tax District dealing with your tax affairs: C2 No:/Tax Clearance No: Expiry Date: In the case of all Adaptation Grant applications a contractor is required to produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate. As an alternative to producing a valid Tax Clearance Certificate the contractor may authorise the local authority to confirm electronically that he/she holds a valid Tax Clearance Certificate using the on-line verification facility on the Revenue Commissioner s website. The contractor gives permission to the local authority to confirm his/her tax clearance status by quoting the customer number and tax clearance certificate number, which appears on the Tax Clearance Certificate. Customer No: Tax Clearance Certificate No: Name of Contractor 2: Address: Tel: Income Tax serial number: Tax District dealing with your tax affairs: C2 No:/Tax Clearance No: Expiry Date: In the case of all Adaptation Grant applications a contractor is required to produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate. As an alternative to producing a valid Tax Clearance Certificate the contractor may authorise the local authority to confirm electronically that he/she holds a valid Tax Clearance Certificate using the on-line verification facility on the Revenue Commissioner s website. The contractor gives permission to the local authority to confirm his/her tax clearance status by quoting the customer number and tax clearance certificate number, which appears on the Tax Clearance Certificate. Customer No: Tax Clearance Certificate No: Page 11 of 11 February 2014